Civil Engineering students test-crash car for class

Civil Engineering students test-crash car for class

After clearing the truck, the car smashes into the Jersey barricade behind the truck. The crash was part of a test held at the Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute's (Larson Institute) test track late in the afternoon of Friday, April 30. Students in Zoltan Rado's civil engineering class at Penn State were tasked with calculating the height and distance of a test car traveling 55 mph. The Larson Institute's three main areas of research are transportation infrastructure, vehicle systems and safety, and transportation operations.

Though the test car managed to topple two Jersey barricades, it does leave a kiosk relatively unscathed. Needless to say, the students' calculations were slightly off. The test took place on Friday, April 30 at the Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute's test track, located near the University Park airport.

Part of the test crash, held at Penn State's Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute's test track, included placing a anthropomorphic dummy in the vehicle's back seat without a seatbelt to demonstrate what would happen to an individual riding in the same position during the impact.

To get the car up to 55 mph, a truck pulled the car with a simple cable-and-pulley system. The rail pictured here kept the crash car on course during the test.
The test took place on Friday, April 30 at the Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute's test track, located near the University Park airport.

Three bus loads of students from Penn State classes in civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and business administration were brought in to observe the experiment. Yellow tape was used to keep the spectators back at a safe distance from the crash area.
The crash was part of a test by civil engineering students at Penn State.

The test car was attached to this truck, which pulled the car up to 55 mph. When given the 'go' signal, the truck began pulling in the opposite direction. The test provided a real-life learning opportunity for Penn State civil engineering students.

The test car successfully hit the ramp and went airborne as part of a crash conducted at the Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute's test track, located near the University Park airport.

This image, taken from the opposite side, shows the distance between the ramp and the truck that the students calculated would be the impact spot. The test crash was held to assist the instruction of Penn State civil engineering students.

Instead of hitting the truck head on as predicted, the test car grazes the top of the truck. The test crash took place on Friday, April 30 at the Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute's (Larson Institute) test track, located near the University Park airport. The Larson Institute's three main areas of research are transportation infrastructure, vehicle systems and safety, and transportation operations.